How Much Work Can You Do?

The first part is easy and is the size of your team. In our example, we assume 3 people.

The second part represents the number of hour per week you can realistically work on planned stuff. Over time you get better at estimating how much extra work you have to do each week that is unplanned. You want this as low as possible but be realistic for your situation. In our example, we assume 30 hours of planned work and 10 hours of work that is dropped on us that we must get done this week.

The third part represent the focus or quality percentage. This means what else is going on that week – is there a holiday or event, or something else (Blue Jays’ playoff run) that could impact the team? In our example, we assume a 90% focus.

The capacity of the team is 3 people x 30 hours planned x 90% focus = 81 hours planned work.

Overtime we get better a estimating the time it takes to do our work. Now you can use your estimates to layout what you are working on, across all assignments. As your estimates of planned work improves, you can have more confidence showing how the next big, must do, unexpected task requires something else to slip. Something has to give.

You will likely experience push back on your estimates and approach but persevere – it will be well worth it.